Bottle-capping machine.



G. KIRKEGAARD.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE. v APPLIGATION FILED 1330.16, 190s.

Patent-,ea June 21, 1910.

UMTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

enano KIBKEGAARD, -0F "NEW YORK, N. Y., AssIGNon. 'ro niermannA s'rorrnn.

` COMPANY, A. CoRoRA'rIoN 0F MAINE.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

speiacaun' of Letters raient. Patented J une 21, '1910.'

Applieationled December 1619Q8. Serial No. 467,819.

To all wwm 'it 'may concern:

.Be it known that I, GEORG KIRKEGAARD, a citizen of the United States, residing 'at the city of 'New York, in the boropgh of Brooklyn and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Cappin Machines, of, which( the 'following is aA ull, clear, and exactde- Aof different hotties, due to imperfect manufacture or otherwise, should be compensated for, so that tall bottleswill not be crushed and broken, while the' shorter bottles will be sure to receive adequate pressure.

One object of the invention is to provide a table which initially supports the bottle ina position slightly elevated in the path of descent of the cap applying head, but: capable of yielding downwardly, sothat in every 'operation the head descends and depresses the bottle and the table together for. a greater 'or less. distance, at the conclusion of which the cap applying operation takes place. AThe latter action 1s broughtabout by the arrest of the table in its descent with vthe bott-le and head, such an arrest occurrin when the head isA within a redetermin distance of its lower l'imit`.o movement.

A further object of the invention is 'to provide mechanical means for securing the above functions,

' A further object of the invention is to provide a friction brake acting on the table at the conclusion of its freely yielding movement to resist the pressure of the cap applyin' operation.' q

n the drawings: Figure 1 is a side ele` vation, partly ,in section, of a cap ing machine embodying the principles o my in' vention; Fig. 2 is-a sectional view on the line II-'II of Fig. 1; Fig'. 3 is a view similar-to Fig. Qshowing a ,slightly modified. construction.

1 designa-tes the frame" or Astandard of a Bott-le capping machine 'and 2 indicates a cap applying head of any ordinary or apr. proved construction,V The head 2 is by the 'frame 1 to have a rectilinear move ment, and any suitable means, ,such as an operating rod 3,A connected with a power or other source, maybe employed for reciprocating the head.

,4 designates a bracket forming part ofthe 'frame 1, and 'whichsupports the table 5,.

on which the bottles ar'e received for he cap' applying operation. In .accordance with the present invention the table 5 'is yieldable or deprcssible in the bracket 4. .'I have illustrated the table as.- forming 'part ofa .plunger 6', which is vertically slidable in a corresponding cylindrical .chamber of the bracket, being normally elevated therein by a spring'S., which permits depression'of the table upon the application 'of a suliicient force, somewhat greater than the weight of a bottle, but less than the requisite ressure forthe cap applying 'operatlon T e table 5, in the preferred form of my invention, isnot made absolutely rigi'd with the" plunger 6, but -is depressible. with respect to said plunger, being guided in a cavity 9 therein. This last movement is, however, resisted by a very strong spring 10, so strong that the movement only takes placeunder extraordinary circumstances. In ordinary use, the table may be considered as rigid with the plunger 6, and ,the exterior 'surface of the plunger 6 is .preferably rou hened.

In connection with theplu-nger 6,- orV its equivalent means for supporting the table, I

provide mechanical gripping means which 1s thrown into action to arrest gthe de ression of the table when the cap applying ead has approached within a predetermined distance of its limit of movement.' 12 designates a brake shoe guided in a recess 13' of the frame 1, so as to be movable laterally into contact with the cylindrical wall 14 of the plunger 6. The bra-kie shoe 12. is adapted to beimpellcd in this action by a cam or circular wedgeI 15 pivotcd t-o the frame of.

the machine at 16, and having a bifnrcated 'arm 17 'which embraces the operating rod 3. 18 and18' denote' ta ets'which are each independently adjusta e vertically on the rod 3i by any' suitable clamping screws 19.

The ta pets 18 are' positioned in the path of the bi urcated arm '17 so as Ito impinge against and ldisplace said arm as the rod 3 approaches its limits of movement. In Aorder to make the action of .the cam wedge 15' slightly yielding; l I have shown the latter action of these elements, I` make the pivot or fulcrum 1G of the cam Wedge adjustable laterally in the frame of the machine. This is conveniently accomplished as shown 'in Fig. v2, by having journal-boxes 21 for the pivot shaft 16, which can be displaced laten ally by adjustment screws 22.

As an alternative construction for the means for arresting the depression of the` table as above described, I have illustrated another form of friction brake in Fig. 3. In this case a stra 25 entirely surrounds the plunger G, one end being fixed to or forming part of the frame 1. and the other end 26 being engaged by a cam 27 to constrict the strap upon the plunger. The cam 27 vhas an lnclined' shoulder 28 Working against -a lug 29 on said free end 26 of the strap. This cam is fulcrumed on a short pivot shaft 30, extending through the fixed and the free ends of the strap and anchored by adjust ment nuts 31. The lever arm 32 of the cani 27 is in the path of tappets 33-on tlierod 3,

generally similar to the parts`18 and 18 alre'ady described. -The .movement of the rod 3 is accompanied by angular displacement bottles 35 are of the cam 27, whichtight'ens or loosens the strap 25 in an obvious manner.

any particularl form of brake or applying means therefor.4 ,4

.The use lin operation is as follows; The laced upon the table 5, which has any suitable mat 36, to take up minor irregularities in the bottom surface, and the mechanism is actuated to depress the cap applying head 2. Thedescent of the latter is greater than the needs of the cap apply.

ing operation, by an amount atleast corre spending to the reater differences in the heights of the bott es to be capped. At this stage of` the action,the brake 12 is released,

and' the table is freely depressible', being only resisted by the spring 8. The ca applying head descends on the bottle an carries the latter 4downward with the table until the cap applying head is within a predetermined distance Q its lower limitl of movement, or in other words, until the tappet 18 contacts with the arm 17. -When this takes place, the cam moves'v to 'tighten the brake upon the lunger 6, so that the depression cf-the ta'brle is arrested. Thereafter further movement of the cap applying head is'eiective to compress and app y the cap to the bottle. ,Inasmuch as 4the cap was Within a predetermined distance of its lower .limit of movement when the table was arrested, it follows that the al Jmo'vement of the cap apply' head can be vmade a fixed amount ,suita le to the iieds of 'the cap Aapplying operation. In extraordinary I do not, of course, desire to be limited or restricted -to cases, the sprin r 10 yields and prevents breakage of the gbottle where an undue resistance is encountered'forany reason. In the return movement of the ca applyin head the table is temporarily held depressed until the bottle is removed. Attlie limit Aof upwardniovement of the cap applying head .the lower tap et strikes the arm 17 and releases tlie bra ze, so that the table ascends in position for the new operation.

What I claim, is: 1. In a bottle .ca ping machine, a cap a plying head, a Eottle supporting table, means for alterin the relative positions-of saidihead and ta le with respect to each other, and means for impeding the movement of one osaid parts, said means coinprising a brake, a force applying member, and a resilient member interposedbetween' said brake and said force applying member.

2. In a bottle ca ping machine, a cap applying head, a ottle supporting table, means for altering the relative positions of said head and table With respect to each other,'and frictioiial braking means for impeding the movement of one of said arts, said' meanscomprising a brake, an adjustable force applying member and a 'resilient 'member inter osed between said brake and said adjustab e member.

3. In a bottle ca ping machine, a cap a plying head, a nottle supporting table, means for altering the relative positions of 'said head and table with respect to each -a further depression of 'the table under extraordinary pressure.

5. In abottle cap ing machine, a cap applying head, a tablle depressible in the path of said head, a spring -for resisting deioo pression of the table, a brake for arresting depression of the table, and tappets movable With-the cap ap lying head and operating to apply and to re ease said brake.

6. In a bottle ca ping machine, a cap applying head, a tab e depressible in'thepath of said head, a spring forA resisting depression of said table, a brake. for'arresting depression ci said table, a cam for operating said brake', -and tappets movable with the cap .applying head andv acting onsaid cam to lgaule the application and release ci the ra e.

7. In a bottle ca ping machine, a cap applying head, a ottle supporting table, means for altering the relative positions of said head and table with respect to each other, and frietional brakingmeans for ini-- peding the movement of one of said parts, said means comprising a brake-member, a force applying member, and a cam having a resilient portion for engagement with one of said members.

8; In a bottle capping machine, a cap applying member, a bottle supporting member, means movable through a predetermined distance for causing the approach of one of said members toward the other, means for causing the other of said members to moderately oppose the approach of the irst mentioned member While yielding thereto, means for impeding said ielding of said second member after the rst member has approached Within a predetermined distance of its limit of movement, and supplemental independent means for permitting one of said members to yield under extraordinary said members with respect to each other, a friction brake for impeding the movement of one of said members whenrhe other 'of said membershas approached Within a predetermined distance of its limit of movement, a brake 'engaging member, and posi# tive means for driving the said engaging member'into engagement with said brake.

10. In abottle' cap ing machine, a cap applying head, a hott e supporting table depressible in the direction of movement'of said head, means comprising a rod for caus-V ing said head to approach said table, a brake for arresting the depression of said table when the cap applying headv approaches Within a predetermined distance of its limit of movement, a cam acting'memberhaving a resilient extension for engagement With said brake, and tappets mounted on said.

rod for coperating with said cam acting member to apply and release said brake In Witness whereof, I subscribe my' signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

Gaone KIRKEGAARD.

pressure. I

9. In a bottle capping machine, a cap applying member, a bottle supporting member, means for altering the relative positions of'l Viitnessesj:

WALDO M. GHMPIN, I AMES DATQNIO. 

